health
February 22, 2026
Do you have a ‘competence hangover’?
It’s what happens when people, especially women, are overworked and underappreciated. Time for all the incompetent slackers to step up ...
TL;DR
- The 'competence hangover' is a state of exhaustion from over-delivering and taking on extra responsibilities, including emotional labor.
- Women are particularly affected due to the dual burden of domestic duties and workplace inequalities, leading to burnout.
- Factors like less reward for extra hours, negative judgment for efficiency, and lack of a 'status shield' contribute to women's burnout.
- The seduction of competence can be universal, making it a hard habit to break for effective individuals of any gender.
- Psychological factors like busyness providing comfort and internal pressure to be perfect can lead to overwork.
- The article suggests that less competent individuals should step up and assist to prevent overstretched colleagues from crashing out.
Continue reading the original article